Clinical Management Program
Do you want to improve the continuity and quality of patient care through better coordination of patient and staff needs? This innovative, highly individualized program meets crucial needs for a variety of health organizations operating in a dynamic environment. Whether you choose to work as a Clinical Nurse Leader or a Clinical Nurse Specialist, you will be prepared as a clinical systems expert who plans, coordinates and provides care to individuals and their families.
How Do the Roles of Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Nurse Leader Differ?
The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is a nursing generalist educated at the master’s degree level, whose administrative role is based on the clinical setting. The CNL coordinates care and maintains effective flow of communication among patients, families and the multidisciplinary health care team, thereby ensuring seamless, comprehensive care. The CNL works with data, information and people – enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the patient care delivery system.
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an Advanced Practice Nurse, prepared in a clinical specialty, whose care focuses on a specific population. The CNS develops, manages and assesses individual and population-based programs of care using innovative evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes. In addition to providing comprehensive patient care, the CNS is an expert consultant to other nurses and to the multidisciplinary health care team.
Visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing comparison table for more details about the CNL and CNS roles.
Where Will You Practice?
Both the CNL and CNS have roles in designing, providing and managing care – depending upon the health care organization’s needs and the professional interests of the nurse working in clinical management. Many practice settings are available to the CNS/CNL, both during your Vanderbilt experience and upon graduation and certification, including:
- Specialty Clinics
- Emergency Departments
- Hospital Inpatient Units
- Intensive Care Units
- Rehabilitation Units
- Ambulatory Care Clinics
How Will Vanderbilt Prepare You for Practice?
For either the CNL or CNS role, Vanderbilt will prepare you to function as a clinical systems expert who can design, coordinate, provide and manage care of acutely ill patients and their families. You’ll have the skills and knowledge necessary to function across the health care enterprise. The curriculum is broad-based, with both classroom and clinical components to facilitate learning through the development of knowledge and application skills.
Modified Class Schedule
The Clinical Management program is one of several specialties at Vanderbilt School of Nursing offered in a modified learning (block) format that allows students to attend graduate school without having to relocate or give up employment.
Through distributed course delivery methods, courses offered in blocks of time on campus (including weekends), online conferencing, and clinical practicum placement in your home area where possible, you can earn your MSN degree without being away from home for extended periods.
